Staff report

Published on Sep. 5, 2012

Sep. 5, 2012

Austin Hatch, the Michigan recruit who was critically wounded in a plane crash last summer that killed his father and stepmother, is delaying his high school graduation a year because of his ongoing rehabilitation.

A 6-6 forward from Fort Wayne, Ind., Hatch now will be part of the recruiting Class of ’14. He told WANE-TV that the Indiana High School Athletic Association recently granted his waiver for an extra year of eligibility.

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Hatch was the only survivor in the small plane crash on June 24, 2011. The extra year of high school eligibility will allow him to recover -- academically and athletically -- at a more measured pace. He told WANE-TV that he still intends to pursue medical school and become a doctor, like his deceased father.

Even without Hatch, Michigan’s Class of ’13 still is in good shape. Forward Zak Irvin of Fishers, Ind., and guard Derrick Walton of Harper Woods, Mich., are both top-50 recruits, and forward Mark Donnal ranks No. 104 on Rivals.com’s rankings.